TWENTY-FIRST
FAO REGIONAL CONFERENCE
FOR AFRICA

Yaounde, Cameroon 21-25 February 2000

PROVISIONAL ANNOTATED AGENDA

TECHNICAL COMMITTEE

Election of the Technical Committee Chairman, Vice-Chairmen and Appointment of the
Rapporteur.

Adoption of the Technical Committee Agenda and Timetable.

II. SELECTED ISSUES IN AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT

The Challenges of Sustainable Forestry Development in Africa

The paper discusses ways and means to: (1) maximise the sustainable contribution of
trees and forests to national economic and social development, with particular emphasis on
food security and poverty alleviation; (2) promote the conservation and improvement of
trees and forest systems and their genetic resources; (3) reduce the risks and mitigate
the impact of forest-related calamities; and (4) strengthen forestry institutions and
national capacities, in particular through better involvement in the post- UNCED
international agenda on Forestry.

Public Assistance and Agricultural Development in Africa.

The paper highlights the centrality of public assistance in the process of agricultural
growth and development, provides pertinent insights and suggests actions to be taken in
order to affect both the institutional framework and policy environment as well as to
enhance the mobilisation and allocation of public human and material resources between and
within agriculture and the rest of the economy.

World Food Summit Follow-up: Special Programme for Food Security  National
Ownership of the Programme and its South-South Dimension.

To ensure sustainable expansion of the Special Programme for Food Security, there is
the need for Member States to take full ownership of this Programme and to draw lessons
from other developing countries that have made headway in improving their food security.
The document will: (1) review the progress so far achieved and the constraints which limit
this progress; (2) propose a number of actions to resolve these constraints; (3) highlight
the importance of strong national ownership of the Programme and the usefulness of the
South-South cooperation. The paper will also stress a number of issues of importance for
food security that have received limited attention. These include food security conceptual
issues, analysis of gender issues relating to food security, the role and importance of
agricultural products such as roots and tubers and livestock products in food security.

Progress Report on the Common African Agricultural Programme (CAAP).

This report will examine the extent of cooperation on CAAP development received from
Member States since the 20th Session and corresponding achievements; and
highlight the support provided by FAO to the OAU/AEC Secretariat in moving the CAAP
process forward.

Integration of Sustainable Aquaculture and Rural Development.

The paper discusses ways of ensuring sustainability of Aquaculture by taking into
consideration important social, institutional and policy issues. Experiences have shown
that Aquaculture should now be viewed holistically as part of a larger agricultural
scheme. Integrating Aquaculture and water management into farming systems allows for
improved resource use, nutrient recycling, diversification and risk avoidance.
Developmentalist, practitioners and administrators should heed past lessons and have
realistic expectations of what aquaculture can and cannot do.

Drought Impact Mitigation and Prevention: A Long-term Perspective.

The paper highlights the need to develop comprehensive action plans and practical
project level interventions based on the principle that drought is a normal event in order
to support longer-term drought mitigation and prevention on a larger scale. These
long-term programmes should be backed by sound land use policies and strategies. In
addition the programmes should be founded on the concept of participation, since
Africas lands can only be conserved and rehabilitated by those who make their living
from their use.

Representation of the Region on the CGIAR.

This is a standing item on the Agenda. Member Nations will be apprised of CGIAR
activities and results of the election of representatives of the Region on the Board. The
outgoing member of the Region will briefly report on research activities and results
obtained during his term.

WAICENT Presentation.

GI will make a presentation on this item.

III. OTHER MATTERS

IV. CONCLUDING ITEMS

Adoption of the Report of the Technical Committee

Closure of the Technical Committee Meeting

PLENARY SESSION

23-25 February 2000

I. INTRODUCTORY ITEMS

Inaugural Ceremony

Election of Chairman, Vice-Chairman and Appointment of the Rapporteur

Adoption of the Agenda and Timetable

II. STATEMENTS

Statement by the Director-General

Country Statements and General Debate on the Food and Agricultural Situation in the
Region.

Report on FAO Activities in the Region 1998-99

III. DISCUSSION ITEMS

World Food Summit Follow-up:

Special Programme for Food Security  National Ownership of the Programme and its
South-South Dimension.

To ensure sustainable expansion of the Special Programme for Food Security, there is
the need for Member States to take full ownership of this Programme and to draw lessons
from other developing countries that have made headway in improving their food security.
The document will: (1) review the progress so far achieved and the constraints which limit
this progress; (2) propose a number of actions to resolve these constraints; (3) highlight
the importance of strong national ownership of the Programme and the usefulness of the
South-South cooperation. The paper will also stress a number of issues of importance for
food security that have received limited attention. These include food security conceptual
issues, analysis of gender issues relating to food security, the role and importance of
agricultural products such as roots and tubers and livestock products in food security.

Food Insecurity and Vulnerability in Africa and WFS Follow-up Activities at Regional and
Sub-Regional Levels to Implement the Plan of Action

The paper takes stock of efforts made to date at regional and sub-regional levels by
Member Countries, with the assistance of FAO and other partners, to reduce food insecurity
and vulnerability. To this end, the nature and causes of food insecurity are examined as
well as priority issues that needed to be addressed and relevant actions to be initiated.